LOT 0360

Large Icon of Archangel Michael Flanked by Saints Florus and Laurus

17TH CENTURY A.D.

27 1/2 x 19 3/4 in. (4.2 kg, 70 x 50 cm).

Tempera on wood, the central part of the composition showing the Archangel Michael, dressed in pseudo-Roman armour consisting of a quilted corset and pteryges hanging from the shoulders and waist, wearing tight Byzantine-style trousers and red imperial shoes, his green tunic contrasting with his pink cloak, holding a flickering flame in his left hand, symbolising his flaming sword; at his side Saints Florus and Lavrus, patrons of horses, dressed in cassocks, and red and green overgarments with gold ornaments at the hems, pink and green cloaks closed by a gold fibula on the right shoulder, the two martyrs in an attitude of veneration towards the Archangel; the lower part of the scene with three martyrs Speusippos, Meleusippos, and Eleusippos on horseback, the horses which Florus and Lavrus were patrons of before them; in the upper part, top left, God dressed in a pink tunic and green chlamys, sitting on a golden throne and assisted by angels with wings of fire, blessing the saints and the martyrs; at his side inscription in Greek letters 'ΙϹ ΧϹ' (ΙΗϹΟΥϹ ΧΡΙϹΤΟϹ = Jesus Christ); images of the saints Basil, Bishop of Caesarea and Blaise, Bishop of Sebastia visible on the borders.

Acquired on the European art market.
Private collection, London, UK.

Accompanied by an academic report by Dr Raffaele D’Amato.
This lot has been checked against the Interpol Database of stolen works of art and is accompanied by search certificate number no.12793-240884.
This lot has been cleared against the Art Loss Register database, and is accompanied by an illustrated lot declaration signed by the Head of the Antiquities Department, Dr Raffaele D'Amato.

Cf. Ryzos, E., ‘Martyrs from the north-western Balkans in the Byzantine ecclesiastical tradition: patterns and mechanisms of cult transfer’ in Bugarski, I., Heinrich-Tamáska, O., Ivanišević, V. and l Syrbefig, D., Late Roman, Early Christian, Early Byzantine as categories in historical-archaeological research on the middle Danube Akten des 27. Internationalen Symposiums der Grundprobleme der frühgeschichtlichen Entwicklung im mittleren Donauraum, Ruma, 4.–7.11.2015, Leipzig, 2016, pp.195-213, fig.1, for similar icon.

The legend of the two saints tells that the Archangel Michael aided the brothers in the recovery of their lost horses and also in their care and training; so Florus and Lavrus became associated with horses.